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Sword Lettuce

Inventory, head : 0
This item was last sold on : 03/17/22

• 8 ShareMarket®

Description/Taste

Sword lettuce is small to medium in size, averaging up to thirty centimeters in height, and has long, thin leaves that grow upright from a central stem and taper to a point. The bright green leaves are slightly serrated along the edges and have a central, crunchy midrib with prominent veins spanning across the surface. Sword lettuce is crisp and tender with the texture of butter lettuce and has a unique green, mildly bitter flavor with notes of almond and clove.

Seasons/Availability

Sword lettuce is available in the early summer.

Current Facts

Sword lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is an Asian loose-leaf variety that is a member of the Asteraceae family. Also known as Pointed Leaf lettuce, Sword Leaf lettuce, Oriental lettuce, and Yu Mai Tsai, Sword lettuce is native to Asia and is especially popular in Taiwan and southern China. Sword leaf lettuce can be harvested loosely or as a whole head at varying stages of maturity and is most commonly used cooked in stir-fries.

Nutritional Value

Sword lettuce is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, and B-complex vitamins. The lettuce also contains folate, iron, potassium, copper, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Applications

Sword lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as sautéing, boiling, or stir-frying. The long-leafed lettuce can be used fresh, adding texture and a unique flavor to garden salads, or it can be used in rolls and wraps. The leaves can also be boiled in soups and stews, stir-fried with garlic as a side dish, or sautéed with other vegetables and served with lo mein. Sword lettuce pairs well with broccoli, water chestnuts, bell pepper, carrots, onions, garlic, green onions, poultry, beef, tofu, fish, sesame oil, soy sauce, and peanuts. The leaves do not keep long after harvest and will only last for a couple of days when stored in a perforated bag in the refrigerator.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

In Taiwan, Sword lettuce is known as A Choy or A-Tsai. The bitter green is one of the more popular greens traditionally used in stir-fries and soups in the country. In Taiwan and parts of southern China, raw lettuce is not commonly consumed due to a history of less than sanitary growing conditions. With advancements in cultivation and more commercial production, salads have become more popular in recent times.

Geography/History

Sword lettuce is native to Asia and has been growing since ancient times. Widely cultivated by both home gardeners and commercial producers, Sword lettuce is most commonly found in Southeast Asia but is also popular among Tawainese living around the world. Today Sword lettuce is found in Asia and may be spotted at local farmers markets in Southern California or in backyard gardens in cooler climates of North America and Europe.

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